1. Diet for Gout
Gout involves an accumulation of uric acid crystals in the tissues, irritating the joints and creating acute inflammation. Uric acid is a normal metabolic waste product created from the digestion of proteins. However, when protein intake exceeds the kidney's ability to excrete the metabolic wastes -- and/or when the fluid intake is insufficient to keep these wastes products dissolved in a fluid form -- the uric acid may precipitate out and form crystals that initiate gouty inflammation. Therefore, anyone with gout should reduce his intake of animal meats, cheeses and rich, dairy-based sauces, and drink more water to reduce the likelihood of forming uric acid crystals.
2. Eat More Veggies to Reduce Uric Acid Accumulation
The consumption of animal-based, protein-rich foods forms acidic waste products in the body, as do refined breads and sugars. The body must "spend" its own minerals to eliminate these wastes via the kidneys. Fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, produce mineral-rich alkaline metabolic wastes that the kidneys use to excrete substances like uric acid. Therefore, increasing your intake of salads, vegetable soups, stir-fried dishes and other vegetables supports the kidneys' ability to eliminate the "pro-inflammatory" uric acid wastes. Limit meat, dairy, cheese, pastries, pastas and breads, and replace them with vegetable-based dishes to reduce the amount of uric acid in the tissues.
3. Drink Nettle Tea
Stinging Nettles (Urtica species) is a safe nourishing, mineral-rich herb that is noted to help the kidneys flush urates from the tissues. Steep 1 tbsp. of dried Nettle leaves per cup of hot water and drink a minimum of three cups each day. Nettles has a plain, green, grassy flavor, but it can be jazzed up by combining it with mint, licorice, lemon peel or another flavor of your choice. Learn to replace coffee and alcohol with mineral-rich herbal teas. This not only forces you to get more pure fluids, but provides minerals the kidneys use to excrete acidic wastes like uric acid. Other mineral-rich herbs include alfalfa (Medicago), oat straw (Avena) and horsetail (Equisetum).
